Automotive leaders are preparing to climb North Africa’s highest mountain in a challenge aiming to raise £40,000 for industry charity Ben.
The four-person team will travel to Morocco from November 21 to 26 to trek through the High Atlas Mountains and attempt to summit Mount Toubkal, which stands at 4,167 metres.
Taking part are Matt Robinson, B2B director at LKQ Euro Car Parts; Pete Brookes, sales director at LKQ Bodyshop Division UK & Ireland; Jonny Harris, sales director at NRF; and Ellen Plumer, Ben’s head of awareness and experience.
Funds raised will support Ben’s work with automotive industry employees and their families.
Winter conditions and high altitude
The expedition will involve up to eight hours of trekking each day, with the team facing snow, sub-zero temperatures and terrain that may require ice axes.
Participants are training for the trek, which forms part of Ben’s Industry Leader Challenge programme. Previous challenges have collectively raised more than £1.02 million.
Robinson said: “This will be one of the toughest challenges I’ve ever tackled, but it pales in comparison to the challenges that some people in our industry are facing.”
He said helping Ben support someone struggling or in crisis would make the effort worthwhile.
Brookes highlighted the importance of teamwork during the ascent.
He said: “We’ll be supporting each other every step of the way, just as Ben supports thousands of people across our industry each year.”
Harris said the physical and mental demands had inspired him to take part, alongside the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for the charity.
Plumer urged businesses across the automotive sector to support the team’s £40,000 fundraising target.
She said: “Every day, people across our industry face challenges they didn’t choose. Ben is there to support them when they need it most, which is why we’re asking our automotive community to get behind us and help us reach our fundraising target of £40,000.”
Companies can also arrange to have their logos displayed on Plumer’s kit and the flag she plans to carry to the summit. Businesses interested in supporting the challenge can contact [email protected].
Previous Industry Leader Challenges have included swimming the English Channel, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and trekking across the Sahara Desert.
Donate to the Mount Toubkal challenge here.
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